UNH Major and Courses

Major

There is no prelaw major at the University of New Hampshire.

American Bar Association (ABA) does not recommend any specific undergraduate major or curriculum for law school admission.

The suggestion given by ABA and law schools alike is to take challenging courses from demanding professors, take as many writing intensive courses as you can fit into your schedule, and of course do well in all of them!

Here's what the ABA says about majors and classes (from "Preparation for Legal Education," by the ABA):

"Students who are successful in law school come to their legal education from widely differing educational and experiential backgrounds. Some have majored in subjects that are traditionally considered paths to law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics, or business. Other successful law students, however, have focused their undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, computer science, engineering, nursing, or education."

The ABA goes on to describe "core skills and values" necessary for law students and lawyers.

This list includes:

Critical Reading Skills

Writing Skills

Oral Communication and Listening Abilities

General Research Skills

Task Organization and Managment Skills

The Values of Serving Others and Promoting Justice

However, many prelaw students will still ask, "What classes should I take?" There are many UNH classes that support development of the above skills and values, and that promote a broad, liberal, diverse, and challenging program of study--probably the best preparation for law school. The list on the right offers some examples; this is not an exhaustive list.

Suggested UNH Courses

Please understand that you do not have to complete these classes for law school admission purposes. These courses may not be offered every semester.